The First Hour: Dandara

Dandara dos Palmares was a freedom fighter who mastered the art of capoeira to combat slavery in colonial Brazil. Dandara, released Tuesday on the Switch by developers Long Hat House and publishers Raw Fury, is not about her, but its heroine is inspired by her. Players take control of the titular legendary figure who arrives on a planet to restore the Salt which has been stolen by an invading army. But Dandara doesn’t move like a traditional platforming character; she can stand freely on marked floors, walls, and ceilings, but can only move by leaping between these points with lightning speed. You can watch Andrew (@playcritically) play the mystifying first hour below.